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Abstract:

There is provided a body movement detecting apparatus including: a body
movement data acquiring unit configured to detect a body movement of a
user and acquire body movement data relating to the body movement; a
memory unit configured to memorize the body movement data corresponding
to the type of an activity of the user as registered body movement data;
a body movement determining unit configured to compare the body movement
data acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit with the
registered body movement data and determine the type of the activity of
the user; and a computing unit configured to be able to calculate
consumed energy by the body movement corresponding to the type of the
activity determined by the body movement determining unit.

Claims:

1. A body movement detecting apparatus comprising:a body movement data
acquiring unit configured to detect a body movement of a user and acquire
body movement data relating to the body movement;a memory unit configured
to memorize the body movement data corresponding to the a type of an
activity of the user as registered body movement data;a body movement
determining unit configured to compare the body movement data acquired by
the body movement data acquiring unit with the registered body movement
data and determine the type of the activity of the user; anda computing
unit configured to be able to calculate consumed energy by the body
movement corresponding to the type of the activity determined by the body
movement determining unit.

2. The body movement detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
computing unit is capable of calculating the consumed energy using a body
activity strength determined by the type of the activity.

3. The body movement detecting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising
an input unit being capable of inputting the type of the activity of the
user, wherein the registered body movement data is body movement data
acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit and memorized in the
memory unit in correspondence with the type of the activity input by the
input unit.

4. The body movement detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
memory unit memorizes one or more types of the activities together with
body activity strengths for the respective types of the activities, and
the user is allowed to operate the input unit to select a desired type of
the activity from the types of the activities memorized in the memory
unit, and causes the registered body movement data to be memorized in the
memory unit.

5. The body movement detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
memory unit memorizes the types of the activities except for walking
and/or running together with the body activity strengths for the
respective types of the activities,the body movement determining unit is
capable of determining whether or not the user is walking and/or running
by a predetermined threshold value relating to the body movement data
acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit, andthe computing unit
calculates the consumed energy on the basis of a body activity strength
calculated on the basis of a body movement strength of the body movement
data when the body movement determining unit determines that the user is
walking and/or running, and on the basis of the body activity strength
determined by the type of the activity of the registered body movement
data when the body movement determining unit determines that the user is
not walking and/or running.

6. The body movement detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
computing unit calculates the consumed energy on the basis of the body
activity strength determined by the type of the activity of the
registered body movement data when the body movement determining unit
determines that there are the registered body movement data corresponding
to the body movement data acquired by the body movement data acquiring
unit, and calculates the consumed energy on the basis of a body activity
strength calculated on the basis of a body movement strength of the body
movement data when the body movement determining unit determines that
there is no registered body movement data corresponding to the body
movement data.

7. A body movement detecting method comprising:a body movement acquiring
step configured to detect a body movement of a user and acquire body
movement data relating to the body movement;a registered body movement
data acquiring step for memorizing the body movement data corresponding
to the a type of an activity of the user as registered body movement
data;a body movement determining step for comparing the body movement
data acquired by a body movement data acquiring unit after the registered
body movement data acquiring step with the registered body movement data
and determining the type of the activity of the user; andan energy
computing step being able to calculate consumed energy by the body
movement corresponding to the type of the activity determined by the body
movement determining unit.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a body movement detecting apparatus
and a body movement detecting method for detecting body movements of a
user and calculating energy consumed by the body movements.

[0003]2. Description of the Related art

[0004]In the related art, there is a pedometer as one of body movement
detecting apparatuses, and more specifically, those added with a
calculating function of consumed energy are widely distributed. The
pedometer as described above is configured to count the number of steps
(step) of the user made by walking (including running, hereinafter), and
to calculate consumed energy according to the number of steps. As another
body movement detecting apparatus, for example, the one disclosed in
JP-A-2002-191580 is proposed. The body movement detecting apparatuses
including the pedometer in the related art as described above are
configured to perform a process to detect or not to detect the body
movements which satisfy preset conditions irrespective of the person who
uses the apparatus.

[0005]However, the users of the body movement detecting apparatuses are as
diverse as students, workers, homemakers and so on and have different
life styles, respectively, so that the state of usage of the body
movement detecting apparatus is different from user to user. When an
activity such as walking is performed for example, the way of walking is
different from user to user, and hence the state of usage is different
from user to user even though the type of the activity is the same.
Therefore, with the apparatuses which detect the body movement always
under certain conditions for all users and calculate the consumed energy
as the body movement detecting apparatus in the related art, the
calculation of the consumed energy in which characteristics of the body
movement of individual users are taken into consideration cannot be
achieved.

[0006]In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a body movement detecting apparatus and a body
movement detecting method which are capable of calculating consumed
energy by determining a type of a body movement on the basis of a
reference of the individual user.

[0007]In order to solve the above-described problems, there is provided a
body movement detecting apparatus including: a body movement data
acquiring unit configured to detect a body movement of a user and acquire
body movement data relating to the body movement; a memory unit
configured to memorize the body movement data corresponding to a type of
an activity of the user as registered body movement data; a body movement
determining unit configured to compare the body movement data acquired by
the body movement data acquiring unit with the registered body movement
data and determine the type of the activity of the user; and a computing
unit configured to be able to calculate consumed energy by the body
movement corresponding to the type of the activity determined by the body
movement determining unit.

[0008]In the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention,
the computing unit is capable of calculating the consumed energy using a
body activity strength determined by the type of the activity.

[0009]The body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention
includes an input unit being capable of inputting the type of the
activity of the user, and the registered body movement data is body
movement data acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit and
memorized in the memory unit in correspondence with the type of the
activity input by the input unit.

[0010]In the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention,
the memory unit memorizes one or more types of the activities together
with body activity strengths for the respective types of the activities,
and the user is allowed to operate an input unit to select a desired type
of the activity from the types of the activities memorized in the memory
unit, and causes the registered body movement data to be memorized in the
memory unit.

[0011]In the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention,
the memory unit memorizes the types of the activities except for walking
and/or running together with the body activity strengths for the
respective types of the activities, the body movement determining unit is
capable of determining whether or not the user is walking and/or running
by a predetermined threshold value relating to the body movement data
acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit, and the computing unit
calculates the consumed energy on the basis of a body activity strength
calculated on the basis of a body movement strength of the body movement
data when the body movement determining unit determines that the user is
walking and/or running, and on the basis of the body activity strength
determined by the type of the activity of the registered body movement
data when the body movement determining unit determines that the user is
not walking and/or running.

[0012]In the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention,
the computing unit calculates the consumed energy on the basis of the
body activity strength determined by the type of the activity of the
registered body movement data when the body movement determining unit
determines that there are the registered body movement data corresponding
to the body movement data acquired by the body movement data acquiring
unit, and calculates the consumed energy on the basis of the body
activity strength calculated on the basis of a body movement strength of
the body movement data when the body movement determining unit determines
that there is no registered body movement data corresponding to the body
movement data.

[0013]There is provided a body movement detecting method includes: a body
movement acquiring step configured to detect a body movement of a user
and acquire body movement data relating to the body movement; a
registered body movement data acquiring step for memorizing the body
movement data corresponding to a type of an activity of the user as
registered body movement data; a body movement determining step for
comparing the body movement data acquired by a body movement data
acquiring unit after the registered body movement data acquiring step
with the registered body movement data and determining the type of the
activity of the user; and an energy computing step being able to
calculate consumed energy by the body movement corresponding to the type
of the activity determined by a body movement determining unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014]The body movement detecting apparatus and the body movement
detecting method which are capable of calculating the consumed energy by
determining the type of the body movement on the basis of the reference
of the individual user are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a body movement
detecting apparatus according to the invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an initial
setting of the body movement detecting apparatus according to the
invention;

[0017]FIG. 3A is a drawing showing a waveform of an A/D converted value of
an acceleration value as first registered body movement data in an
example of registered body movement data to be registered in the initial
setting of the body movement detecting apparatus.

[0018]FIG. 3B is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as second registered body movement data in the
same example;

[0019]FIG. 3C is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as third registered body movement data in the
same example;

[0020]FIG. 3D is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as fourth registered body movement data in the
same example;

[0021]FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as fifth registered body movement data in the
example of the registered body movement data to be registered in the
initial setting of the body movement detecting apparatus;

[0022]FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as sixth registered body movement data in the
same example;

[0023]FIG. 4C is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value
of the acceleration value as seventh registered body movement data in the
same example;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an operation
of the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a body movement determining process of
the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a body movement determining process of
the body movement detecting apparatus according to a first modification
of the invention; and

[0027]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a body movement determining process of
the body movement detecting apparatus according to a second modification
of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028]Referring now to the drawings, a body movement detecting apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is
a block diagram showing a configuration of a body movement detecting
apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the body movement detecting apparatus
10 includes an operating unit 21, a display unit 22, a power source unit
23, an accelerator sensor 31, a computer 32, a memory 33, a timer 34, an
A/D converter 35, and a controller 40. Detailed configurations of the
respective members will be described below.

[0029]In the invention, the term "body movement data" means data on the
body movements of a user. More specifically, they are data reflecting the
body movements of the user (for example, walking, running, and activities
other than those (daily life actions)) such as body movement data
relating to the stress of the body movement (body movement strength),
repetitiveness and continuity of the body movement, pitches of the body
movement when the same body movement is repeated (body movement pitch),
the number of times (for example, the number of steps), and includes
registered body movement data described later. As the body movement
strength, using data relating to acceleration values of the body movement
of the user is specifically preferable. The data relating to the
acceleration value may be selected as needed from, for example, a value
obtained by subtracting a lower peak value from an upper peak value for
each body movement, acceleration values themselves for each body
movement, or an integrated value of the acceleration values ("magnitudes
of the acceleration values") per a given period. The body movement
includes general actions (activities) of the body of the user, and
includes walking, running, and, in addition, other activities (for
example, a step action without or little repetitiveness or continuity, an
action only of the upper half body, mainly, daily life actions).

[0030]The term "registered body movement data" means body movement data
corresponding to the types of the activity of the individual user of the
body movement detecting apparatus 10, and is one or more body movement
data which are to be registered in the body movement detecting apparatus
10 in advance . In this embodiment, for example, a plurality of the types
of the activities of the registered body movement data, which can be
registered, such as first registered body movement data "walking", second
registered body movement data "running", third registered body movement
data "watching TV or listening to music in a quietly sitting position"
(resting state), fourth registered body movement data "light work in an
office", fifth registered body movement data "housework 1 (laundry)",
sixth registered body movement data "housework 2 (cleaning)", seventh
registered body movement data "housework 3 (washing dishes) are listed up
so as to allow the user to select and register desired items (see FIG. 3
and FIG. 4).

[0031]The term "body activity strength" means an index which is
represented by how many times the strength of the body activity of a
person corresponds to with respect to the strength of the body activity
of the person in the resting state. For example, it is determined for
various body activities of the person in advance, such as "3" for the
normal walking, "7" for running with reference to "1" for a state of
being at rest in a sitting position. This corresponds to "METs (Metabolic
Equivalents)" in "Exercise Guideline for Health Body 2006" formulated in
July in 2006 by an investigative commission for formulating the required
amount of exercise and exercise guideline.

[0032]The term "amount of body activity strength" is an index which
represents the amount of the body activity, and is obtained by the body
activity strength multiplied by the duration of the body activity. This
corresponds to "EXERCISE" in the "Exercise Guideline for Health Body
2006" described above.

[0033]The operating unit 21 (biological data acquiring unit, input unit)
functions mainly as a data input unit for inputting the biological data
of the user or inputting setting items of the body movement detecting
apparatus 10, and allows the user to select or input the types of
activities, described later. The number, the shape, and the operating
method of the operating unit 21 are not specifically limited, and may be
selected as needed from, for example, those of a push-button type, a
touch sensor type, and a dial type. Here, as the biological data to be
input by the operating unit 21, weight, height, age, and sex may be
exemplified for example. However, the biological data are not
specifically limited as long as they are needed for obtaining consumed
energy by the body movement of the user. The setting items are setting
items required when the user uses the body movement detecting apparatus
10, and initial settings of the body movement detecting apparatus 10, the
current date and time, the day of week and time of day of the present,
change-over of contents to be displayed on the display unit 22 are
exemplified for example. The biological data and the setting items input
in this manner are memorized in the memory 33 (for example, RAM (Random
Access Memory) under control of the controller 40, and are displayed on
the display unit 22.

[0034]The display unit 22 is a data display unit for displaying data
transmitted from the controller 40, and mainly displays the biological
data and the setting items of the user (including the types of activities
described later), an operation guide, current time of day, date, day of
week, accumulated consumed energy, number of steps, amount of body
activities, walk distance, time length of activities other than the
walking, and resting time length of the corresponding day, and data of
past several days. The contents to be displayed are memorized in the
memory 33, and the controller 40 is configured to read out data from the
memory 33 according to the state of usage of the body movement detecting
apparatus 10 according to a program memorized in the memory 33 in
advance, and displays on the display unit 22. For example, a display unit
employing an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) may be used as the display unit
22, and the display unit 22 and the operating unit 21 may be formed
integrally as a liquid crystal display panel having, for example, a touch
panel function.

[0035]The power source unit 23 is a power supply unit made up of a power
supply source such as a battery, so that power is supplied to the
respective components of the body movement detecting apparatus 10 via the
controller 40.

[0036]The body movement detecting apparatus 10 includes the accelerator
sensor 31, the computer 32, the memory 33, the timer 34, the A/D
converter 35, and the controller 40 as an internal mechanism. The
computer 32 and the controller 40 each are preferably formed by an
integrated circuit, and the computer 32 and the controller 40 may be
integrated.

[0037]The memory 33 is a memory unit made up of a volatile memory (not
shown), or a non-volatile memory (not shown). The volatile memory is
configured to be able to memorize a variety of data for the processes by
the controller 40 temporarily. It also functions as the memory area used
by the computer 32 for a computing process. The non-volatile memory is
used for storing data to be memorized for a long term. For example,
memorization of the registered body movement data (including
determination values) as described later, the non-volatile memory is
configured to be used for storing past body movement data (including
determination values) on the basis of day of week and time of day,
biological data input by the user, consumed energy calculation formulas,
and a variety of programs as described later.

[0038]The timer 34 measures elapse of predetermined time and determines
whether or not the predetermined time is elapsed and, for example, is
able to measure the elapsed time from a moment when the user starts to
use the body movement detecting apparatus 10, or to determine body
movement pitches of the user (for example, time required for one step).
In the embodiment, the timer 34 is an independent component. However, it
may be integrated into the controller 40 as a timer circuit to determine
whether the predetermined time is elapsed or not by the controller 40 by
itself.

[0039]The accelerator sensor 31 is a body movement data acquiring unit
configured to acquire the body movement data relating to the body
movement of the user, and is a sensor which outputs values varying
according to the acceleration values generated by the body movement of
the user. More specifically, the accelerator sensor 31 includes an X-axis
sensor 31a, a Y-axis sensor 31b, and a Z-axis sensor 31c (see FIG. 1) ,
so as to be capable of detecting the body movement in the 3-axis (X-axis,
Y-axis, Z-axis) directions orthogonal to each other, and is configured to
be able to acquire acceleration values, which is a value obtained by
combining respective output values from the X-axis sensor 31a, the Y-axis
sensor 31b, and the Z-axis sensor 31c. In the embodiment, the accelerator
sensor 31 is used as the body movement data acquiring unit, and hence the
body movement strength of the user corresponds to the data relating to
the acceleration values. Therefore, the body movement data is obtained in
such a manner that the body movement strength is determined to be strong
if the acceleration value is high, and the body movement strength is
determined to be weak if the acceleration value is low.

[0040]The output acquired by the accelerator sensor 31 is converted from
analogue to digital by the A/D converter 35 for the processes performed
by the controller 40 or the computer 32. More specifically, the
respective output values as analogue data acquired by the X-axis sensor
31a, the Y-axis sensor 31b, and the Z-axis sensor 31c are converted into
digital data respectively by an A/D converter 35a, an A/D converter 35b,
and an A/D converter 35c, and are memorized in the memory 33
corresponding to the elapsed time from the start of acquisition in
conjunction with the timer 34. Also, by combining the A/D converted
values of the respective output values from the X-axis sensor 31a, the
Y-axis sensor 31b, and the Z-axis sensor 31c by the computer 32,
acceleration values (the A/D converted value of the acceleration values)
as digital data are obtained by calculation, and are memorized in the
memory 33 corresponding to the elapsed time from the start of acquisition
in conjunction with the timer 34. In this manner, by acquiring the
acceleration values corresponding to the elapsed time, not only the body
movement strength, but also the presence or absence of the repetitiveness
or continuity of the body movement, the pitch (body movement pitch) or
the number of times (for example, the number of steps) when the same body
movement is repeated may be acquired simultaneously as the body movement
data by observing the acceleration value in time series in sequence of
acquisition. In order to acquire the acceleration values by all the body
movements of the user accurately by this accelerator sensor 31, the body
movement detecting apparatus 10 is preferably mounted to the user so as
to be in contact thereto as close as possible and, it is recommended to
propose a state of being attached, for example, on a belt or the like
worn by the user around the waist, or a state of being memorized in a
chest pocket of a dressing of the user specifically for enabling sensing
of the body movement of the upper half body as well. The body movement
data acquired in this manner is memorized in the memory 33 and is partly
(for example, the number of steps) displayed on the display unit 22 by
the control of the controller 40.

[0041]As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 40 is electrically connected to
the operating unit 21, the display unit 22, the power source unit 23, the
accelerator sensor 31, the computer 32, the memory 33, the timer 34, and
the A/D converter 35 so that the respective operations are controlled by
the controller 40.

[0042]The controller 40 functions as a body movement determining unit
configured to determine which one of the registered body movement data
already registered the body movement data acquired at the instance just
passed by the accelerator sensor 31 in association with the computer 32,
described later. More specifically, the controller 40 compares
determination values of the body movement data acquired individually per
the predetermined unit time with determination values of one or more
registered body movement data after the initial setting, and determines
which registered body movement data they correspond to. Here, the
determination values are not specifically limited as long as they are
able to reflect the characteristics of the body movement data, and a
detailed example will be described later.

[0043]The controller 40 further functions as a number-of-steps counting
unit. An example of a number-of-steps counting method performed by the
controller 40 will be described in brief below. The controller 40 causes
the A/D converter 35 to convert the acceleration values acquired by the
accelerator sensor 31 from analogue to digital and causes the memory 33
to memorize the acquired digital acceleration values in sequence in time
series and, for example, acquires a waveform by plotting all the A/D
converted values of acceleration values acquired in sequence with a
lateral axis indicating the elapsed time (unit: second) and a vertical
axis indicating the A/D converted value of the acceleration value (unit:
count), and then performs the following process according to the
transition of the acceleration value. The amplitude of the waveform of
the acceleration value is determined as one step of walking (when the
value exceeds a first threshold value X and is acquired within a given
period t1), whether a predetermined number of such waves or larger appear
within the predetermined time (whether or not the number of waves in the
waveform of the acceleration value within a given period t2 exceeds a
second threshold value Y) is determined. If the number of the waves is
the predetermined number of waves or larger, it is determined to be a
continuous walking, so that the steps are counted by incrementing by one
at every peak value.

[0044]The computer 32 is a computing unit being capable of performing a
variety of computing processes under control of the controller 40 and,
for example, calculates consumed energy by the body movement of the user
on the basis of the biological data or the body movement data of the user
memorized in the memory 33. Calculation of the consumed energy is
performed by cumulatively adding the consumed energy of the body movement
data (body movement data acquired at the instance just passed) at every
predetermined unit time (for example 20 seconds).

[0045]More specifically, the controller 40 compares the determination
values of the body movement data acquired per the predetermined unit time
with the determination values of the one or more registered body movement
data registered in advance, determines which one of the registered body
movement data relating to the type of the activity they correspond to,
reads the body activity strength defined by the determined type of the
activity, that is, memorized corresponding to the registered body
movement data relating to the determined type of the activity, and sends
it to the computer 32. What the computer 32 should do is to calculate the
amount of the body activity obtained by multiplying the body activity
strength by the predetermined unit time and to obtain the consumed energy
on the basis of the predetermined consumed energy calculation formula
using the amount of body activity and, for example, to calculate the
consumed energy in the predetermined unit time, for example, by
multiplying the amount of the body activity by the weight of the user
which is registered in advance, and a predetermined coefficient. By
cumulatively adding the consumed energy in the predetermined unit time
calculated in this manner, for example, the total consumed energy of the
corresponding day of usage is calculated.

[0047]First of all, referring now to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the initial setting
(registered body movement data acquiring step) of the body movement
detecting apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing
an example of a flow of the initial setting of the body movement
detecting apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 3A is a drawing
showing a waveform of the A/D converted value of the acceleration value
as the first registered body movement data in an example of the
registered body movement data to be registered in the initial setting of
the body movement detecting apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 3B
is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value of the
acceleration value as the second registered body movement data in the
same example; FIG. 3C is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D
converted value of the acceleration value as the third registered body
movement data in the same example; FIG. 3D is a drawing showing a
waveform of the A/D converted value of the acceleration value as the
fourth registered body movement data in the same example; FIG. 4A is a
drawing showing a waveform of an A/D converted value of the acceleration
value as the fifth registered body movement data in the same example;
FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted value of the
acceleration value as the sixth registered body movement data in the same
example; FIG. 4C is a drawing showing a waveform of the A/D converted
value of the acceleration value as the seventh registered body movement
data in the same example.

[0048]After having activated the body movement detecting apparatus 10, the
user operates the operating unit 21, inputs the biological data required
mainly for calculating the consumed energy (for example, weight, age,
sex, etc.), and causes the input biological data to be memorized in a
predetermined area of the memory 33 (Step S1).

[0049]Subsequently, the controller 40 displays the guidance for guiding
the setting of the registered body movement data on the display unit 22
(Step S2) . As the display of the guidance, it is preferable to list up
the plurality of types of the activities of the registered body movement
data, which can be registered, such as the first registered body movement
data "walking", the second registered body movement data "running", the
third registered body movement data "watching TV or listening to the
music in the quietly sitting position", the fourth registered body
movement data "light work in the office", the fifth registered body
movement data "housework 1 (laundry)", the sixth registered body movement
data "housework 2 (cleaning)", the seventh registered body movement data
"housework 3 (washing dishes)" so as to allow the user to select items.

[0050]The controller 40 causes the user to operate the operating unit 21
and select a type of the activity of the registered body movement data
which the user wants to register, and goes standby so as to memorize the
selected items in the memory 33 in correspondence with the body movement
data which are acquired immediately after (Step S3) . Subsequently, the
controller 40 causes the display unit 22 to display a window which
prompts the user to perform the activity corresponding to the selected
type of the activity of the registered body movement data (for example,
"walking"), and acquires the body movement data from the activity
("walking") of the user in a state in which the body movement detecting
apparatus 10 is attached to a predetermined position on a dressing or the
like of the user (Step S4). Whether or not the predetermined unit time
(for example, 20 seconds) has elapsed from the start of the acquisition
of the body movement data is counted by the timer 34 and, if not (No in
Step S5), the acquisition of the body movement data is continued without
change (Step S4).

[0051]When the predetermined unit time is elapsed from the start of the
acquisition of the body movement data (Yes in Step S5), the controller 40
calculates the determination value of the acquired body movement data
(Step S6). The determination value is calculated as follows, for example.
The controller 40 causes the A/D converter 35 to convert the acceleration
values acquired by the accelerator sensor 31 according to the body
movement of the user from analogue to digital and causes the memory 33 to
memorize the acquired digital acceleration values in sequence in time
series, and acquires a waveform by plotting all the A/D converted values
of the acceleration values acquired in sequence with a lateral axis
indicating the elapsed time (unit: second) and a vertical axis indicating
the A/D converted value of the acceleration value (unit: count) (see FIG.
3 and FIG. 4). The acquired waveform is subjected to the frequency
analysis, then characteristic or representative (two, for example)
frequency zones are selected, and peak-to-peak values (P-P value),
average values, maximum values, and minimum values in these frequency
zones are calculated respectively, and at least one of these values is
employed as the determination value.

[0052]The A/D converted value of the acceleration value, the waveform
thereof, and the predetermined determination value as the body movement
data acquired in this manner are memorized in the memory 33 as the
registered body movement data selected in Step S3 (first registered body
movement data) (Step S7) and the corresponding body activity strength is
also memorized together. The corresponding body activity strength means
the body activity strength preset for each type of the activity displayed
in the guidance in Step S2. For example, the body activity strength
corresponding to each of the body movement data is set such as a body
activity strength "3.0" for the body movement data "walking", a body
activity strength "7.0" for the body movement data "running", a body
activity strength "1.0" for the body movement data "watching TV or
listening to the music in the quietly sitting position", a body activity
strength "1.5" for the body movement data "light work in the office", a
body activity strength "2.0" for the body movement data "housework 1
(laundry)", a body activity strength "2.5" for the body movement data
"housework 2 (cleaning)", and a body activity strength "2.3" for the body
movement data "housework 3 (washing dishes)".

[0053]Subsequently, the controller 40 displays the guidance asking whether
the setting for other registered body movement data continuously is
wanted on the display unit 22 (Step S8). When the user operates the
operating unit 21 and selects to continue (Yes in Step S8), the procedure
goes back to Step S2 and the process is repeated. If the user selects to
end (No in Step S8), the initial setting of the body movement detecting
apparatus 10 is ended.

[0054]For example, when the user performs an initial registration of
"walking" as the registered body movement data, the user selects the
first registered body movement data "walking" in the guidance in Step S2.
Subsequently, the user performs the "walking" for the predetermined unit
time and inputs the body movement data of the "walking" as the individual
user into the body movement detecting apparatus 10 in Step S3. The body
movement detecting apparatus 10 acquires and calculates the A/D converted
value of the acceleration value, the waveform thereof (see FIG. 3A), and
the predetermined determination value, memorizes these values as the
first registered body movement data of the "walking" of the corresponding
individual user, and indexes the body activity strength "3.0". The same
can be said for other body movement data such as "running" (FIG. 3B),
"watching TV or listening to the music in the quietly sitting position"
(FIG. 3C), "light work in the office" (FIG. 3D), "housework 1 (laundry)"
(FIG. 4A), "housework 2 (cleaning)" (FIG. 4B), and "housework 3 (washing
dishes)" (FIG. 4C).

[0055]Referring now to FIG. 5 to FIG. 6, a flow of calculation of the
consumed energy by the body movement detecting apparatus 10 will be
described. Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of an
operation of the body movement detecting apparatus according to the
invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a body movement determining
process of the body movement detecting apparatus according to the
invention.

[0056]After having ended the above-described initial setting, the body
movement detecting apparatus 10 is attached to the predetermined position
on the dressing or the like of the user. When the utilization of the body
movement detecting apparatus 10 is started, the body movement data of the
user are acquired by the body movement detecting apparatus 10, and are
memorized in the memory 33 (Step S10) (body movement data acquiring
step). More specifically, the acceleration values of the body movement of
the user are acquired by the accelerator sensor 31, then, the A/D
converter 35 converts the respective output values acquired by the X-axis
sensor 31a, the Y-axis sensor 31b, and the Z-axis sensor 31c of the
accelerator sensor 31 as analogue data into digital data, and the
controller 40 simultaneously acquires the elapsed time (or the current
time of day) from the time point when the acquisition is started by the
timer 34, and causes the memory 33 to memorize the A/D converted values
of the respective output values in correspondence with the predetermined
elapsed time (or the current time of day) from the start of the
acquisition. Whether or not the predetermined unit time (for example, 20
seconds) has elapsed from the start of the acquisition of the body
movement data is counted by the timer 34 and, if not (No in Step S11),
the acquisition and the memory of the body movement data are continued
without change (Step S10).

[0057]When the predetermined unit time is elapsed from the start of the
acquisition of the body movement data (Yes in Step S11), a body movement
determining process for determining which the registered body movement
data the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed
correspond to is performed (Step S12) (body movement determining step).
The body movement determining process is for comparing determination
values of the body movement data acquired individually per the
predetermined unit time with the determination values of the registered
body movement data which are already registered after the initial
setting, and determining which registered body movement data they
correspond to, which will be described with reference to FIG. 6. As Steps
from A to B in FIG. 5, Steps from A to B in Step S12 in FIG. 6 are
executed.

[0058]The controller 40 calculates the determination value of the body
movement data acquired at the instance just passed and causes the memory
33 to memorize the same (Step S100). The determination value may be
calculated in the same manner as the determination value of the
registered body movement data. The controller 40 causes the A/D converter
35 to convert the acceleration values acquired by the accelerator sensor
31 according to the body movement of the user from analogue to digital
and causes the memory 33 to memorize the acquired digital acceleration
values in sequence in time series, and acquires the waveform by plotting
all the A/D converted values of the acceleration values acquired in
sequence with the lateral axis indicating the elapsed time (unit: second)
and the vertical axis indicating the A/D converted value of the
acceleration value (unit: count) . The acquired waveform is subjected to
the frequency analysis, then the characteristic or representative (two,
for example) frequency zones are selected, and the P-P value, the average
value, the maximum value, and the minimum value in these frequency zones
are calculated respectively, and at least one of these values is employed
as the determination value.

[0059]Subsequently, the controller 40 compares the determination value of
the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed with the
determination values of the registered body movement data which are
already registered (Step S101). This comparing process is performed on
all the registered body movement data which are already registered in
sequence. Consequently, the controller 40 selects the determination value
of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed which
corresponds to the determination value of the registered body movement
data, and determines which the type of the activity of the registered
body movement data the body movement data acquired at the instance just
passed correspond to (Step S102) . In the determination of whether or not
the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed corresponds
to the determination values of the registered body movement data, an
arbitrary predetermined range is determined, and those having difference
of the determination values from the determination value of the
registered body movement data falling within the predetermined range are
determined to match as well as those which match completely.

[0060]The body activity strength of the body movement data acquired at the
instance just passed is determined on the basis of the result of
determination (Step S103) . More specifically, in the case of the result
of determination such that the body movement data acquired at the
instance just passed correspond to the first registered body movement
data "walking" (FIG. 3A) from the registered body movement data, the body
activity strength of the body movement data acquired at the instance just
passed is determined as "3.0" on the basis of the body activity strength
"3.0" indexed to the type of the activity of the determined first
registered body movement data.

[0061]After having performed the body movement determining process (Step
S12) as described above, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to
calculate the amount of the body activity on the basis of the body
movement data acquired at the instance just passed in the predetermined
unit time, and causes the memory 33 to memorize the same (Step S13) as
shown in FIG. 5. The amount of the body activity is calculated by
multiplying a body activity strength determined in Step S103 by the
predetermined unit time (20 seconds in this embodiment).

[0062]Furthermore, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to calculate
the consumed energy on the basis of the body movement data acquired at
the instance just passed in the predetermined unit time, and causes the
memory 33 to memorize the calculated consumed energy (Step S14) (energy
computing step). The consumed energy in the predetermined unit time is
calculated by multiplying the amount of the body activity obtained in
Step S13 by the weight of the user which is registered in advance and the
predetermined coefficient.

[0063]The consumed energy in predetermined unit time calculated in this
manner is accumulated per the predetermined unit time, and the total
value is renewed as a result display on the display unit 22 (Step S15).
In other words, the consumed energy in the first predetermined unit time
calculated as described above is displayed as the result display on the
display unit 22 as is, then the procedure goes back to Step S10. Then,
the consumed energy in the second predetermined unit time is calculated,
then the consumed energy in the first predetermined unit time and the
consumed energy in the second predetermined unit time are added, and the
display on the display unit 22 is renewed with an added total value as
the result display. The consumed energy in the third predetermined unit
time is also calculated, and the result display is renewed. The result
display is not limited to the consumed energy, but may include the total
number of steps which are counted by the controller 40.

(First Modification)

[0064]The body movement detecting apparatus and the body movement
detecting method according to the invention are capable of performing a
body movement determining process according to first modification shown
in Step S20 in FIG. 7 instead of the body movement determining process
shown in Step S12 in FIGS. 5 and 6. In other words, in the first
modification, as the Steps from A to B in FIG. 5, Steps from A to B in
Step S20 in FIG. 7 are executed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the body
movement determining process of the body movement detecting apparatus
according to the first modification of the invention.

[0065]In the first modification shown in FIG. 7, as regards the
predetermined activity of the user, even though the registered body
movement data are not registered in advance, it is determined that the
user is performing the predetermined activity, so that the calculation of
the consumed energy is enabled. Accordingly, the labor of registration of
the registered body movement data may be alleviated, and the user
friendliness is improved. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the body
movement determining process according to the first modification in which
the operation to be done by the user for registering the registered body
movement data in the resting state and the registered body movement data
relating to the type of the activity of the walking may be omitted by
enabling the determination of whether the user is in the resting state,
walking (including running), or performing other activities according to
an acceleration value and a coefficient of variance will be described.

[0066]First of all, the controller 40 determines whether or not the
acceleration value of the body movement data acquired at the instance
just passed in the predetermined unit time in Step S11 in FIG. 5 is a
predetermined threshold value or larger (Step S200) . The predetermined
threshold value is a threshold value relating to the acceleration value
which determines that the user is in activity when the acceleration value
is the threshold value or larger, and an arbitrary value is set as a
default value. When the acceleration value of the body movement data
acquired at the instance just passed does not reach the predetermined
threshold value (No in Step S200) , the controller 40 determines that the
user is not moving (or in the resting state, or sleeping), and causes the
memory 33 to memorize this state as the body activity strength "1" (Step
S207).

[0067]On the other hand, when the acceleration value of the body movement
data acquired at the instance just passed is the predetermined threshold
value or larger (Yes in Step S200), the controller 40 determines whether
or not the coefficient of variance of the body movement data acquired at
the instance just passed is the predetermined threshold value or larger
(Step S201). More specifically, when observing the transition of the
acceleration value while the user is walking in the predetermined unit
time in Step S11 in FIG. 5, amplitude at pitches corresponding to the
respective steps is confirmed. Therefore, it is determined that the user
is walking when the steps having a predetermined amplitude at a
predetermined pitch, for example, are confirmed in the body movement data
acquired at the instance just passed within a predetermined time, that
is, when they are stable and regular without variations such that the
coefficient of variance does not exceed the predetermined threshold
value, so that the number of steps is counted. The coefficient of
variance is a value obtained by dividing a standard deviation by an
average value.

[0068]When the coefficient of variance of the body movement data acquired
at the instance just passed does not reach the predetermined threshold
value (No in Step S201), the controller 40 determines that the user is
walking, and causes the computer 32 to calculate a walking strength as
the body activity strength, and causes the memory 33 to memorize the
result of calculation (Step S206). The walking strength may be calculated
on the basis of the magnitude of the acceleration value.

[0069]On the other hand, when the coefficient of variance of the body
movement data acquired at the instance just passed is the predetermined
threshold value or larger (Yes in Step S201), the controller 40
calculates the determination value of the body movement data acquired at
the instance just passed and causes the memory 33 to memorize the same
(Step S202). As the determination value, it may be calculated in the same
manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The controller 40 causes the
A/D converter 35 to convert the acceleration values acquired by the
accelerator sensor 31 according to the body movement of the user from
analogue to digital and causes the memory 33 to memorize the acquired
digital acceleration values in sequence in time series, and acquires a
waveform by plotting all the A/D converted values of the acceleration
values acquired in sequence with the lateral axis indicating the elapsed
time (unit: second) and the vertical axis indicating the A/D converted
value of the acceleration value (unit: count). The acquired waveform is
subjected to the frequency analysis, then the characteristic or
representative (two, for example) frequency zones are selected, and the
peak-to-peak value (P-P value), the average value, the maximum value, and
the minimum value in these frequency zones are calculated respectively,
and at least one of these values is employed as the determination value.

[0070]Subsequently, the controller 40 compares the determination value of
the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed with the
determination values of the registered body movement data which are
already registered (Step S203). This comparing process is performed on
all the registered body movement data which are already registered in
sequence. Consequently, the controller 40 selects the determination value
of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed which
corresponds to the determination value of the registered body movement
data, and determines which the type of the activity of the registered
body movement data the body movement data acquired at the instance just
passed correspond to (Step S204).

[0071]Then, the body activity strength of the body movement data acquired
at the instance just passed is determined on the basis of the result of
determination (Step S205) . More specifically, in the case of the result
of determination such that the body movement data acquired at the
instance just passed correspond to the first registered body movement
data "walking" (FIG. 3A) from the registered body movement data, the body
activity strength of the body movement data acquired at the instance just
passed is determined as "3.0" on the basis of the body activity strength
"3.0" indexed to the type of the activity of the determined first
registered body movement data.

[0072]After having performed the body movement determining process (step
S20) as described above, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to
calculate the amount of the body activity on the basis of the body
movement data acquired at the instance just passed in the predetermined
unit time, and causes the memory 33 to memorize the same (Step S13) as
shown in FIG. 5. The amount of the body activity is calculated by
multiplying the body activity strength acquired in Step S205, Step S206,
or Step S207 by the predetermined unit time (20 seconds in this
embodiment).

[0073]Furthermore, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to calculate
the consumed energy on the basis of the body movement data acquired at
the instance just passed in the predetermined unit time, and causes the
memory 33 to memorize the calculated consumed energy (Step S14) (energy
computing step). The consumed energy in predetermined unit time is
accumulated per the predetermined unit time, and the total value is
renewed as the result display on the display unit 22 (Step S15).

[0074]According to the first modification as described above, whether the
user is in the resting state or walking (or running) can be determined
automatically, it is not necessary to register the registered body
movement data relating to these types of the activity specifically, and
hence the registration operation to be done by the user can be omitted.

(Second Modification)

[0075]Subsequently, referring now to FIG. 8, a second modification of the
invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a body
movement data determining process of the body movement detecting
apparatus according to the second modification of the invention. In the
second modification, the body movement determining process shown in Step
S30 in FIG. 8 is performed instead of the body movement determining
process shown in Step S12 in FIGS. 5 and 6. In other words, in the second
modification, as the Steps from A to B in FIG. 5, Steps from A to B in
Step S30 in FIG. 8 are executed.

[0076]In the second modification shown in FIG. 8, the different methods of
calculation of the body activity strength are provided for the case where
the determination value corresponding to the determination values of the
registered body movement data relating any type of activity is found and
the case where it is not found as a result of comparing the determination
value of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed with
the determination values of the registered body movement data.

[0077]First of all, the controller 40 calculates the determination value
of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed in the
predetermined unit time in Step S11 in FIG. 5 and causes the memory 33 to
memorize the same (Step S300). As the determination value, it may be
calculated in the same manner as the example shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7.

[0078]Subsequently, the controller 40 compares the determination value of
the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed with the
determination values of the registered body movement data which are
already registered (Step S301). This comparing process is performed on
all the registered body movement data which are already registered in
sequence. Asa result of the comparing process, the controller 40
determines whether or not there is any body movement data acquired at the
instance just passed corresponding to the determination value of the
registered body movement data (Step S302).

[0079]As the result of the comparing process as regards the determination
value of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed, if
there is registered body movement data corresponding to the determination
value of the body movement data acquired at the instance just passed (Yes
in Step S302), the body activity strength of the body movement data
acquired at the instance just passed is determined on the basis of the
types of the activity of the registered body movement data.

[0080]In contrast, as the result of the comparing process as regards the
determination value of the body movement data acquired at the instance
just passed, if there is no registered body movement data corresponding
to the determination value of the body movement data acquired at the
instance just passed (No in Step S302), the controller 40 causes the
computer 32 to calculate the body activity strength on the basis of the
body movement data acquired at the instance just passed in the
predetermined unit time and causes the memory 33 to memorize the result
of calculation (Step S304). The body activity strength may be calculated,
for example, on the basis of the magnitude of the acceleration value.

[0081]After having performed the body movement determination process (Step
S30) as described above, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to
calculate the amount of the body activity on the basis of the body
movement data acquired at the instance just passed in the predetermined
unit time, and causes the memory 33 to memorize the same (Step S13) as
shown in FIG. 5. The amount of the body activity is calculated by
multiplying the body activity strength acquired in Step S303, or Step
S304 by the predetermined unit time (20 seconds in this embodiment).

[0082]Furthermore, the controller 40 causes the computer 32 to calculate
the consumed energy on the basis of the body movement data acquired at
the instance just passed in the predetermined unit time, and causes the
memory 33 to memorize the calculated consumed energy (Step S14) (energy
computing step). The consumed energy in the predetermined unit time is
accumulated per the predetermined unit time, and the total value is
renewed as the result display on the display unit 22 (Step S15).

[0083]According to the body movement detecting apparatus and the body
movement detecting method described in the embodiment and in the first
and second modifications described above, the type of the activity can be
determined using the registered body movement data of the individual
user, and the consumed energy can be calculated using the body activity
strength determined or calculated according to the type of the activity.
Therefore, the consumed energy for the body movement generated by the
activity of the user can be calculated in view of the characteristics
thereof.

[0084]Although the invention has been described on the basis of the
above-described embodiment, the invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiment, and may be improved or modified within the
scope of the object of the improvement and the sprit of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0085]As described thus far, the body movement detecting apparatus and the
body movement detecting method according to the invention are effected
when the consumed energy of the body movement generated by the activity
of the user needs to be grasped in view of its characteristic.